Good girls meet bad boys every day in literature. What makes them interesting is when the good girl isn’t all that good and the bad boy isn’t all that bad. That’s called character development.

In this tale, Emerson is our good/bad girl. She has developed a reputation as a tease who follows through, but there is more to her than that. She is an artist with a wounded soul. She meets Shaw – dark, mysterious, hot Shaw – when he rescues her from certain doom at a biker bar. They are attracted to each other, but Emerson keeps men at arm’s length. No getting hurt for her, thank you very much.

Of course there are Reasons for this, and of course her family is at the crux of it all.

Shaw and Emerson have a hot relationship, though, and before too long, they are playing kissy kissy. As much as Shaw wants more physically, he wants even more emotionally. Emerson, though, needs to get her act together before she loses this stud.

Yes, it’s predictable, NA fare. But it’s enjoyable and occasionally hot. Shaw all but writes the playbook for men; his pursuit of Emerson occurs at a steady, respectful pace. He demands that she respect herself enough to be honest with herself and him. He understands her struggles and wants to help her, not use her. His feelings are genuine and believable.

Emerson, too, is genuine in that she is confused and doesn’t know herself very well. Oh, she thinks she does, but she really has no idea. When Shaw sees through her, it puts her off. She can’t be with him until she accepts reality, and that will take her some time.

This is part of a series, but you don’t need to have read the first one. It’s fun, escapist fare and nothing more.